Isaiah 46
1 Bel is bent down, Nebo is falling; their images are on the beasts and on the cattle: the things which you took about have become a weight to the tired beast.
Bel has been broken. Nebo has been crushed. Their idols have been placed upon beasts and cattle, your grievous heavy burdens, even unto exhaustion.
2 They are bent down, they are falling together: they were not able to keep their images safe, but they themselves have been taken prisoner.
They have been melted down, or have been smashed together. They were not able to save the one who carried them, and their life will go into captivity.
3 Give ear to me, O family of Jacob, and all the rest of the people of Israel, who have been supported by me from their birth, and have been my care from their earliest days:
Listen to me, house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Israel, who are carried in my bosom, who were born from my womb.
4 Even when you are old I will be the same, and when you are grey-haired I will take care of you: I will still be responsible for what I made; yes, I will take you and keep you safe.
Even to your old age, I am the same. And even with your grey hairs, I will carry you. I have made you, and I will sustain you. I will carry you, and I will save you.
5 Who in your eyes is my equal? or what comparison will you make with me?
To whom would you liken me, or equate me, or compare me, or consider me to be similar?
6 As for those who take gold out of a bag, and put silver in the scales, they give payment to a gold-worker, to make it into a god; they go down on their faces and give it worship.
You take gold from a bag, and you weigh silver on a scale, so as to hire a goldsmith to make a god. And they fall prostrate and adore.
7 They put him on their backs, and take him up, and put him in his fixed place, from which he may not be moved; if a man gives a cry for help to him, he is unable to give an answer, or get him out of his trouble.
They carry him on their shoulders, supporting him, and they set him in his place. And he will stand still and will not move from his place. But even when they will cry out to him, he will not hear. He will not save them from tribulation.
8 Keep this in mind and be shamed; let it come back to your memory, you sinners.
Remember this, and be confounded. Return, you transgressors, to the heart.
9 Let the things which are past come to your memory: for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like me;
Remember the past ages. For I am God, and there is no other god. There is no one like me.
10 Making clear from the first what is to come, and from past times the things which have not so far come about; saying, My purpose is fixed, and I will do all my pleasure;
From the beginning, I announce the last things, and from the start, the things that have not yet been done, saying: My plan will stand firm, and my entire will shall be done.
11 Sending for a bird of strong flight from the east, the man of my purpose from a far country; I have said it, and I will give effect to it; the thing designed by me will certainly be done.
I call a bird from the east, and from a far away land, the man of my will. And I have spoken it, and I will carry it out. I have created, and I will act.
12 Give ear to me, you feeble-hearted, who have no faith in my righteousness:
Hear me, you who are hard of heart, who are far from justice!
13 My righteousness is near, it is not far off; salvation will come quickly; and I will make Zion free, and give Israel my glory.
I have brought my justice near. It will not be far away, and my salvation will not be delayed. I will grant salvation in Zion, and my glory in Israel.
